(03-10-2018 05:54 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Agree with all of the comments.

The game officials let JT4 alone most of the season until Thursday and Friday.

MAC officials just don't like his physicalness. Opposing players do thing like grab his arm, lock up and hope something bad happens.

Yep, they poke and prod at him, hoping he blows up. He had been so good at keeping his cool all season. I can't remember him getting any technicals in MAC play after the first game against Ball State. That showed some great maturation, which allowed him to be an All-Conference player/defender, and one of the league leaders in minutes played.

Then Cleveland happened, and he regressed to his habits from freshman year. Opponents clearly targeted him, but they've done so all year. I hope that disappointment fuels him, and he comes back next year better than ever. We will be a title contender if he does.

(03-10-2018 08:15 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(03-10-2018 05:54 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Agree with all of the comments.

The game officials let JT4 alone most of the season until Thursday and Friday.

MAC officials just don't like his physicalness. Opposing players do thing like grab his arm, lock up and hope something bad happens.

Yep, they poke and prod at him, hoping he blows up. He had been so good at keeping his cool all season. I can't remember him getting any technicals in MAC play after the first game against Ball State. That showed some great maturation, which allowed him to be an All-Conference player/defender, and one of the league leaders in minutes played.

Then Cleveland happened, and he regressed to his habits from freshman year. Opponents clearly targeted him, but they've done so all year. I hope that disappointment fuels him, and he comes back next year better than ever. We will be a title contender if he does.

To be honest, I think that shows that he isn’t ready for the next level yet. If teams know that he will revert to those types of habits if they prod just enough, he will be more of a liability than a strength. He has a lot of the intangibles but one more year of maturity could do him wonders and potentially could really lead EMU to some great things next year.

So disappointing to be so tantalizing close. I know that the CBI or the CIT is not where any of us want this program to be. Nor do many of you think that it will be a good thing for the program. However, I still say that any extra practices we can get with these guys to continue to play is a benefit, especially if we can make a run in one of them which honestly I think we could. Considering how this team of transfers and other pieces finally meshed is quite good. It just amazes me to think how far they came from just a month ago at this time to now, especially considering how I was right on the bandwagon to letting Murphy go.

Just a shame that we always seem to be on the wrong end of the narrative of someone else’s story. Especially when it benefits a fan base that already is spoiled with success and will make sure to gloat about it. It’s a shame that we have several of those bases in the MAC who then feel the need to bash on us just to make them feel better about themselves. It’s also a shame when at times it feels like the MAC does what they can to aid them in that bashing. However, I also don’t want to take anything away from the Toledo players for their effort and for the way they battled through their own adversity. Plus we all have to admit that was an impressive shot to win that game.

Although admittedly you have to think next year could be bright.. we have clear talent coming back that is coming together on the men’s side and our women’s team has a player that looks destined to be a star too and really made nice strides this year.

Just some thoughts to throw into the mix. The sun did come up today but I think we all would have seen it just a bit brighter had a play or two gone the other way.

(03-10-2018 07:42 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  I'm not saying there's a conspiracy. And I'm not saying it's rigged. But I will say that the MAC clearly would prefer Toledo over EMU for tonight's final. Ticket sales, higher attendance, the hotel bookings, it's all about money.

Our team does need to play better, especially on offense. And Murphy needs to get his kids to play through the BS the referees serve them. Nonetheless, this game was horribly officiated and it's a shame that it may have affected the outcome.

Yes it is a conspiracy. And it is rigged. And you nailed the motivation. I think all MAC schools suffer from inadequate athletics fan base, but none to the extent of EMU.

I am not saying the MAC commushioner is giving explicit orders down to the refs to take EMI out. But I think if EMU makes an objection to a call to the conference they will disregard, whereas if a school with a better program or greater fan support makes an objection there is more consequences for the refs from the conference. They get conditioned this way. I realize I am speculating, but there is a definite bias and this seems like a reasonable POSSIBLE explanation.

I share everyone’s optimism for another competitive year next year. Murphy deserves a lot of credit for getting this program to a regularly competitive state.

Though I believe this was EMU’s year with the core of Jackson-Bond-Minnie-Thompson. This was special and only surpassed by Buffalo. Bond and Thompson are just too exceptional of players to lose.

Groce and McAdoo will be better to help offset the loss of Bond. And Bud Jones showed signs of REAL talent towards the end of the year. So I think EMU will be competing for another bye seed next year- though with more teams will be in the mix for these.i am excited to watch yet again next year.

Anyone gonna watch the final? Hoping Buffalo puts a whooping on Toledo.

(03-10-2018 07:02 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Anyone gonna watch the final? Hoping Buffalo puts a whooping on Toledo.

I will keep an eye on it. Also hoping that Buffalo destroys them.

I'm mildly rooting for Toledo as they are so local. I must admit, however, that it looks like the officials for this tournament have been culled from the Rockets athletic department staff. After last night's debacle,tonight they refuse to call traveling on UT and they are walking all over the place.

Despite my hate filled ant-MAC conference rant yesterday, I broke down and put the game on. Toledo is only down 5 mid way through the second. Closer than I think we were expecting- perhaps officiating as Jerry suggests.

Well Buffalo wins it as expected. By 10 but was real close most of the way until the last couple minutes. Buffalo looked good but beatable- wish EMU was in the game. But impressed with Toledo’s play without Fletcher.

So MAC will be a one bid per usual. And Buffalo will be that bid for the third time in 4 years.

(03-10-2018 09:06 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Well Buffalo wins it as expected. By 10 but was real close most of the way until the last couple minutes. Buffalo looked good but beatable- wish EMU was in the game. But impressed with Toledo’s play without Fletcher.

So MAC will be a one bid per usual. And Buffalo will be that bid for the third time in 4 years.

Ramy, EMU would have won that game tonight. Buffalo is playing their worst basketball of the year at the wrong time of the season. The Bulls are very athletic but they did not shoot well. Eastern is nearly as fast but we have far more length and tonight we could have ate their lunch.

As bad as I feel for Fletcher, the injury to the MAC player of the year may have been the best thing to happen for Toledo vs EMU. Fletcher had 30 points and one three cumulatively in our TWO previous games while Jackson had 26 points and eight three pointers in just one semi-final game. Buffalo saw this and made adjustments while Jackson blindsided us. A missed opportunity to be sure.

UB did look beatable tonight.

(03-10-2018 09:06 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Well Buffalo wins it as expected. By 10 but was real close most of the way until the last couple minutes. Buffalo looked good but beatable- wish EMU was in the game. But impressed with Toledo’s play without Fletcher.

So MAC will be a one bid per usual. And Buffalo will be that bid for the third time in 4 years.

Yes, Buffalo has the best coaching in the conference, and the best defense and offense. If the conditions remain unchanged, I bet Buffalo will win the conference again next year because they only lose one senior.

Buffalo does not the best defense in the conference.